New Bear Cruz: I have 'a lot left in the tank'

Victor Cruz doesn't think he's going to stop salsa dancing for some time yet.

The newly signed Chicago Bears receiver said on the "Waddle & Silvy" radio show that he believes he has "a lot left in the tank" after seven years with the New York Giants.

"I'm excited, man," Cruz said, according to ESPN. "I'm excited to come and have a fresh start and a new home and a new place. I'm excited to work with (quarterback) Mike Glennon and coach (John) Fox and everyone there."

Cruz's career looked in jeopardy during an injury-ravaged two-year stint from 2014-15, which included a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and a torn fascia in his left calf. While his 2016 was relatively unspectacular, Cruz regained his health, appearing in 15 games and racking up 586 yards on 39 catches.

Now the veteran pass-catcher, who received minimal interest over the first few months of free agency, is excited to join a team that he says made it clear how much they valued him.

"I just wanted to hear that I can have an opportunity to play," Cruz said of the free-agent process. "To come and be a direct impact to a football team. And Chicago showed me a lot of love. ... Everyone was adamant about how they felt I could contribute to the football team and be a factor immediately coming right in. And not just as a player but as someone who's been around football a long time and can come in and provide an insight to different teams and different nuances of the game. And I think Chicago presented the best opportunity for me."

Cruz joins a receiving corps with a lot of bodies, but little top-tier talent. Chicago lost Alshon Jeffery in free agency and brought in Kendall Wright, Rueben Randle, and Markus Wheaton to go along with Cameron Meredith and former first-rounder Kevin White.

"I looked at that receiver room and I saw a lot of young guys and a lot of talent in there as well," Cruz said. "A lot of guys that can benefit from just having someone like me in the room, to pick my brain and for me to tell them how I think we can get better."